Apparatus for processing steel plates



Sept; 2, 1941.

R. H. GORDON I APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING STEEL PLATES Filed May 17, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 70,8175 60222 012 9' ATTOR Y Sgpt. 2, 1941.

R. H. GORDON 2,254,216 APPARATUS FOR fRocEssINe STEEL PLATES Filed May 17. 1940 INVENTOR FOZe/Z BY 'ATTORN 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 Patented Sept. 2, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING STEEL PLATES Robert H. Gordon, Detroit, Mich. Application May 17, 1940, Serial No. 335,655

14 Claims.

The present invention relates to apparatus for processing steel sheets and particularly relates to improved apparatus for applying rustproofing solution to such sheets.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for processing steel sheets in which such sheets are passed successively and continuously through processing sections so that the sheets issue from the discharge end with rustproofing coatings on both surfaces thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved structure of the type mentioned in which steel sheets are conveyed into and through a processing tank having a treating bath therein and in which the sheets are introduced into the bath below the surface thereof and are car ried through the bath below the surface thereof, so that both sides of the sheet are treated.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus in which successive sheets may be continuously fed into a treatment bath below the surface thereof and in which the level of the bath is maintained above the inlet opening so that the sheets are completely submerged as they pass through the tank.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, from the drawings relating thereto, and from the claims hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, in which like numerals are used to designate like parts in the several views throughout:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary diagrammatic, side elevational view of an apparatus for treating and processing steel sheets according to the present invention.

Figure 1A is a fragmentary diagrammatic side elevational view of said apparatus and is to be considered as joined to Figure 1 on the lines 'A--A of Figures 1 and 1A.

Figure 1B is a further fragmentary diagrammatic side elevational view of said apparatus and is to be considered as joined to the right hand end of Figure 1A on the lines 3-3 of Figures 1A and IE. I

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional View through one of the treatment tanks illustrated in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of Fig, 2.

The process of the present application is generally similar to the process described and claimed in the copending application of Robert H. Gordon and Roy P. Tooke, Serial No. 319,114, filed February 15, 1940, and the apparatus of the present invention is directed to the continuous application of the process disclosed in the copending application referring to steel sheets. According to the present invention, steel sheets are successively and continuously conveyed through a series of in-line treatment units so that both sides of the sheets are treated and the issuing sheets from the discharge end of the unit has a rustproofing coating formed thereon.

Referring to Fig. l, a leveling roll unit [0 is provided through which the sheets are first passed for the purpose of flattening and leveling the same. The sheets are then successively conveyed through an alkali wash section l2, a powerrinse section I4, an immersion rinse section iii, a first processing tank l8, a power rinsing section 20, a second processing section 22 wherein the rustproofing solution is applied to both sides of the sheetfand a drying oven 24 from which the sheets issue with rustproofing formed thereon. The sections I2, l6, l8, and 22 are generally similar in construction in that each of such sections includes an inner or first tank containing a bath of treating fluid. The tank is so constructed that the sheets are successively fed into the tank through one end thereof, below the surface of the bath, are conveyed through the tank while submerged within the bath and are then discharged from the opposite end of the tank at a point below the level of the bath. The liquid from the bath which flows through the inlet and outlet openings is collected within a second tank or receptacle disposed under the first tank with means for conveying fluid from the inlet and outlet openings to the second tank. Such liquid is then returned to the first; tank to maintain the level of the bath therein, so that the sheets conveyed through the bath are at all times submerged in the bath.

In Fig. 2, a vertical section is shown through section l8 through which steel sheets 49 are continuously and successively passed while immersed in the first processing solution. Such section It includes a first tank 26 having an inlet end 28 and an outlet end 30. 'I'he tank 26 has side walls and a sloping bottom 32, which slopes downwardly from the ends 28 and 30 to the longituditank 26, having a level substantially as that indicated.

Overflow walls or gutters 38 are formed adjacent the ends 28 and 30 having overflow openings associated therewith, so that the upper bath level within the tank remains substantially fixed.

A transversely extending, substantially horizontal inlet 40 is provided through the end wall 28 below the overflow baflie 38 and below the level of the bath 36 for the passage of the sheets being treated into section l8. A transversely extending substantially horizontal outlet opening 42 is provided in the end wall 30 below the overflow baffle 38 and below the level of the liquid bath, which is substantially aligned with the inlet opening 40. A continuous conveyer means in the form of a plurality of transversely spaced conveyer chains 44, which are trained about pulley 46 and driven pulley 48, is disposed within the tank 26 below the-bath level and between inlet 40 and outlet 42. The upper reaches of the chains 44 are aligned with the openings 48 and 42, so that as the succesive sheets 49 are fed through the inlet. 40 such sheets are supported upon and are carried by the conveyer chains 44 through the bath.

Rubber covered driven rollers 50 are disposed adjacent the inlet 48 in the path of movement of the sheets, and such rbllers convey the sheets into inlet opening 40. Similar driven rollers 52 are disposed adjacent the outlet 42, receive the sheets as they aredischarged from the outlet 42, and feed the sheets onto the conveyer of the next unit 20. The rolls 50 and 62 also serve to keep solution from one tank from passing with the sheets to the next succeeding tank.

Supporting members in the form of upwardly opening channel sections 54 are disposed under the conveyer chains 44 and are mounted upon transversely extending I-beams 56, which maybe fixed to the side walls of the tank. Such .members 54 serve to maintainthe supporting portions of the chain conveyer substantially level as the sheets are carried therealong.

The tank 26 is supported in spaced relation to the floor by means of a suitable framework,

including upright members having-transversely extending frame members 58 fixed thereto.

A second tank or receptacle 60 is disposed under the first tank 26 and has extensions or con-' duits 62 associated therewith which extend longitudinally of the tank 26 to positions beyond the ends 28 and 30. The conduit members 62 terminate in upright end members 64 and 66; and it will be seen that the end 64 extends beyond the inlet 40 and the end 66 extends beyond the outlet 42. The conduits 62 slope downwardly toward and discharge into receptacle 60. It will thus be seen that since the inlet opening 48 and outlet opening 42 are disposed below the level of the bath, the liquid of the bath will flow through such openings. Such liquid will be caught within conduit 62 and will flow into receptacle 6!], as indicated by the bath 36'.

A pump 68 is mounted adjacent the bottom of receptacle 6!] and has a conventional drive means 10 associated therewith. The inlet end of the pump communicates with the interior of receptacle 68 through a conduit II and through one of the walls of the tank. Another conduit 12 extends between the discharge of the,pump 68 and the inlet 34 of tank 26. The pump 68 is operated so that the fluid which flows through openings 40 and 42 and is collected within receptacle or tank 60 is returned to tank 26, thus maintaining the level of bath 36 within tank 26. The successive sheets which are continuously passed through tank 26 are completely submerged in bath 36 as they pass therethrough, so that the solution contacts both sides of the sheets, thereby effecting the desired treatment on the sheets.

Guide means are provided adjacent the outlet 42 so that the sheets are guided into the outlet as they approach the end of the conveyer 49. Such guide means include a transversely extending bafile 14 which slopes downwardly below the level of the bath toward outlet 42 to a position above the conveyer. A transversely extending driven guide roll 16 is disposed above the conveyer between the baffle 14 and the outlet 42 and is driven in a counterclockwise direction, viewing Fig. 2. It will thus be seen that if the leading ends or the sheets being treated rise upwardly, such ends will abut against the baffle 14 and be directed downwardly so that the roll 16 will engage such sheets and align them with opening 42.

Also, guides 18 are mounted on the sides of the tank adjacent the discharge end thereof which slope inwardly toward the center of the tank. Thus any sheets which tend to go of! to one side will be aligned laterally with the outlet 42.

As mentioned above, sections I2, I 6, and 22 are generally similar in construction to section I8, described above in detail. Certain of these other sections, such as section l2, may be provided with temperature controlling means in the form of steam coils which are immersed in the bath under the conveyer in order to maintain proper treatment temperatures for that bath treatment section. The important feature of the construction of the present invention is that it provides a means by which successive sheets may be continuously passed through a bath while completely immersed therein so that both sides of the sheet are uniformly and simul taneously treated. I

While the structure of the present invention, described above, is particularly adapted to the treatment of successively fed sheets or plates, it will be evident that the apparatus is also adapted for use with a continuous steel strip.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit and substance of the invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for treating the surfaces of metal articles, a treatment tank containing a bath of treating fluid conveyor means disposed within said tank below the surface of said bath for supporting and conveying said articles through said bath below the surface thereof, means forming an article inlet in said tank below the surface of said bath, and means for supplying treating fiuid to said tank.

2.1.11 apparatus for treating the surfaces of metal articles, a treatment tank containing a bath of treating fluid, conveyor means disposed within said tank below the surface of said bath for supporting and conveying said articles through said bath below the surface thereof, means forming a transversely extending article inlet in said tank below the surface of said bath and substantially aligned with the upper level of said conveyor means, and means for supplying treating fluid to said tank.

3. In apparatus for treating the surfaces of metal articles, a treatment tank containing a bath of treating fluid, continuous conveyor means disposed within said tank below the surface of said bath for supporting and conveying said articles through said bath below the surface thereof, means forming a substantially horizontal article inlet in said tank below the surface of said bath and substantially aligned with the upper level of said conveyor means, and means for supplying treating fluid to said tank.

4. In apparatus for treating the surfaces of metal articles, a treatment tank containing a bath of treating fluid, conveyor means disposed within said tank below the surface of said bath for supporting and conveying said articles through said bath below the surface thereof, oppositely disposed, transversely extending inlet and outlet openings in said tank below the surface of said bath, and means supplying treating fluid to said tank.

5. In apparatus for treating the surfaces of metal articles, a first tank containing a bath of treating fluid, a second tank disposed under said first tank and having portions extending beyond the ends of said first tank, conveyor means disposed within said first tank below the surface of said bath for supporting and conveying said articles through said bath below the surface.

thereof, aligned article outlet and inlet openings, respectively, formed in said ends of said first tank below the surface of said bath, whereby fluid flowing through said openings collects in said second tank, and means for returning the fluid from said second tank to said first tank to replace the fluid passing through said openings. 6. In apparatus for treating the surfaces of metal articles, a first tank containing a bath of treating fluid, a second tank disposed under said first tank and having portions which extend beyond the opposite ends of said first tank, horizontal article inlet and outlet openings formed in said opposite ends of said first tank, respectively, continuous conveyor means disposed within said tank below the portions of said bath between said inlet and outlet openings with the upper level of said conveyor means substantially horizontal and aligned with said inlet and outlet openings for supporting and conveying said articles through said bath below the surface thereof, the construction and arrangement of said inlet and outlet openings with respect to the level of said bath being such that said liquid flows through said openings and is conveyed by said portions to said second tank, and pump means for returning fluid from said second tank to said first tank to maintain the bath level in said first tank above the articles being conveyed therethrough.

'7. In apparatus for treating the surfaces of metal articles, a first tank containing a bath of treating fluid, a second tank disposed under said first tank having portions thereof which extend beyond the opposite ends of said first tank, transversely extending, substantially horizontal inlet and outlet openings formed in said-opposite ends, respectively, of said-first tank below the surface of said bath, chain conveyor means disposed within said first tank below the surface of said bath with the upper reaches of said chain conveyor means substantially aligned with said inlet and outlet openings, supporting means disposed under said upper reaches for maintaining said upper reaches substantially level, the arrangement of said inlet and outlet openings being such that fluid from said first tank flows through said inlet and outlet openings into said second tank, and pump means communicating with said first and. second tanks for returning the fluid from said second tank to said first tank.

to maintain the level of the bath in said first tank above said conveyor means.

8. In apparatus for treating the surfaces of metal articles, a first tank containing a treating fluid, conveyor means disposed within said first tank below the surface of the bath for supporting and conveying said articles through said bath below the surface thereof, substantially horizontal, article inlet and outlet openings formed in opposite ends of said first tank below the sur- I face thereof, whereby fluid flows through said openings, a receptacle disposed under said first tank, conduit means associated with said receptacle and extending to positions under said openings whereby fluid flowing through said openings is carried to said receptacle, and means for returning the fluid from the receptacle to the first tank to replace the fluid passing through said openings and maintaining the level of said bath.

9. In apparatus for treating the surfaces of metal articles, a treatment tank containing a bath of treating fluid, substantially horizontal inlet and outlet openings formed in opposite ends of said tank below the surface of said bath, conveyor means disposed within said tank below the surface of said bath extending between said inlet and outlet openings for supporting and conveying said articles through said bath below the surface thereof, guide means disposed within said tank for guiding said articles into said outlet opening, and means supplying treating fluid to said tank.

10. In apparatus for treating the surfaces of metal articles, a treatment 'tank containing a bath of treating fluid, substantially horizontal inlet and outlet openings formed in opposite ends of said tank below the surface of said bath, conveyor means disposed within said tank below the surface of said bath between said inlet and outlet openings for supporting and conveying said articles through said bath below the surface thereof, a guide roller disposed above said conveyor means adjacent said outlet opening and extending transversely 'of said tank for guiding said article into said opening, and means for supplying treating fluid to said tank.

11. In an apparatus for treating the surfaces of metal articles, a treatment tank containing a bath of treating fluid, means forming an article inlet in said tank below the surface of the bath, means forming an article outlet insaid tank below the surface of the. bath, means for supplying treating fluid tosaid tank, and means for conveying the articles through the inlet, the outlet and through the bath below the surface thereof.

12. In an apparatus for treating the surfaces of metal articles, a treatment tank containing a bath of treatment fluid, means forming a transversely extending article inlet in said tank below the surface ofsaid bath, means forming a transversely extending article outlet in the opposite end of said tank below the surface of said bath, and means for conveying the articles through the inlet, the outlet and through the bath below the surface thereof, said last named means comprising a pair of rolls disposed adjacent said inlet and another pair of rolls disposed adjacent said outlet, said rolls being so positioned as to receive said article therebetween v and guide said article through said tank below the surface of said bath, and means for supplying a treatment fluid to said tank.

13. In an apparatus for treating the surfaces of metal articles, a first tank containing a bath of treatment fluid, a second tank disposed under said first tank and having portions extending beyond the end of said first tank, means forming transversely extending and. aligned article outlet and inlet openings, respectively, in the ends of said first tank below the surface of said bath, whereby fluid flowing through said openings collects in said second tank, means for returning the fluid from the second tank to said first tank to replace the fluid passing through said openings, and means for conveying an article through said inlet andoutlet openings and through said bath below the surface thereof.

14. In an apparatus for treating the surfaces of metal articles, a first tank containing a bath of treatment fluid, a second tank disposed under said first tank and having portions extending beyond the end of said first tank, means forming transversely extending and aligned article outlet and inlet openings, respectively, in the ends of said first tank below the surface of said bath, whereby fluid flowing through said openings collects in said second tank, means for returning the fluid from the second tank to said first tank to replace the fluid passing through said openings, and means for conveying the articles through the inlet, the outlet and through the bath below the surface thereof, said last named means comprising a pair of rolls disposed adjacent said inlet and another pair of rolls disposedadjacent said outlet, said rolls being so positioned as to receive said article therebetween and guide said article through said tank below the surface of said bath.

ROBERT H. GORDON. 

